Cranking device for internal-combustion engines.



G. A. BARTLOG.

GEANKING DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6. 1913.

1,086,012. Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

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O. A. BARTLOG'.

GRANKING DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6. 1913. I

012 Patented Ieb.3, 1914.

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CHARLES A. BARTLOG, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

GRANKING DEVICE FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 3, 1914.,

Application filed March 6, 1913. Serial No. 752,512.

T 0 allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. BARTLoc, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of lVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cranking Devices for Internal-Combustion Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention comprehends improvements in cranking devices for internal combustion engines and relates more particularly to that type employing a starting shaft which engages the engine to rotate the same, means for rotating the starting shaft, and means for disengaging the starting shaft from the engine shaft when the engine back fires.

The primary object of the invention resides in the provision of a cranking device of this nature, which will positively act to disengage the starting shaft from the en gine shaft when the engine back fires, thereby protecting the operator from injury; which may be easily assembled and disassembled; and whcihmay be applied to the common types of motor vehicles now in use.

The invention also aims to generally improve devices of this nature, to render them more eflicient, reliable, practical, and commercially desirable.

With these and other objects in view, as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention,-reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in wh1ch Figure 1 1s a longitudinal sectional view,

partly in elevation, of a cranking device constructed in accordance with my invention, showing the engine shaft disengaged from the starting shaft, Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view partly in elevation, showing the two shafts engaged for cranking, Fig. 3 is a view taken on the plane of line 3-3 of Fig. 1, the cover of the stationary casing being removed, Fig. at is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view, partly in elevation, showing the position of the parts immediately after back firing has taken place, and, Fig. 5 is a view taken on the plane of line 5-5 of Fig. l.

v In the following description and accompanying drawings, similar parts will be referred to and designated by like reference characters.

5 Referring in detail to the drawings by numerals, 6 designates a preferably cylindrical casing which is adapted to be rigidly secured to a suitable support, said casing being provided with a removable cover 7. 1A ratchet wheel 8 is inclosed within the casing and is provided with a hub portion 9 which extends through circular openings formed in the front and rear walls thereof, thereby serving to rotatably support the ratchet wheel. A plurality of pawis 10 are secured to the shafts 11 and are held in engagement with the teeth formed upon the periphery of the ratchet wheel by means of suitable springs 12, said springs being secured to the casing by means of the screws 13.

A starting shaft 14 extends loosely through the hub of the ratchet wheel and is supported thereby in such a manner as to permit of its being moved longitudinally into engagement with the engine shaft 15. A pin 16 is carried by the starting shaft and engages the rear face of the hub 9. An eX- pansive spiral spring 17 encircles the starting shaft, bears at one end against a washer 18 carried thereon, and is adapted to bear 'at the other end against a portion of the engine frame or other suitable surface, whereby the two shafts are held normally from engagement with each other.

An elongated operating member 19 is rotatably mounted upon the starting shaft between the outer end thereof and the stationary casing 6 and carries means for rotating said shaft. A crank 20 is fixed in one end of the operating member while the other end is formed with a longitudinal chamber 21, which opens at its inner end upon an annular recess 22, which surrounds the starting shaft and which is closed at each end. A sliding block 23 is fitted within a reduced portion 21 of the chamber 21 and projects a slight distance into the recess 22. A flange 25 surrounds the outer end of the sliding block and by engaging the shoulder formed by the reduced portion of the chamber 21 liini the inward movement of the plug. A pin 26 is secured within an opening formed in the wall of the chamber 21 and projects into a slot 2'? formed in the flange of the sliding block and holds the same against rotation; The inner end of the block is formed with a recess or groove 28 and the end of the block is cut away on one side thereof, as indicated at 29. The starting shaft it carries a lug 30 which is adapted to seat within the groove or recess 28 so that when the operating member is rotated, a rotational movementwill be transmitted to the starting shaft.

An expansive spiral spring 31 is retained within the chamber 21 by means of a threaded plug 32, having a projection 33 formed upon its inner end which serves to hold the spring away from the walls of the chamber. A flange 3a is formed around the outer end of the plug to limit its inward movement so that the spring 31 may not be unduly compressed.

A. pin is tightly fitted within an open ing fori'ned in the hub of the ratchet wheel 8 and projects laterally therefrom through an opening 36 formed in the operating member 19, whereby the motion of the latter is transmitted to the former. A cam 37' is rigidly secured to the outer end of the starting shaft and shaped so as to properly engage the end of the pin 35 so as to separate the shafts when the engine back fires. To facilitate the process of assembling the device, I provide the ratchet wheel 8 with a slot 38 so that it may be slipped past the lug 30 into its proper position. The operating member is formed with a slot 39, which extends through the wall thereof into the chamber 22, and which is for the purpose of permitting the lug 30 to enter said recess.

To crank the engine, the operating member is forced inwardly against the tension of the spring 17 and carries the starting shaft into engagement with the engine shaft. This movement causes the pin 35 to project beyond the outer face of the operating member, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. By turning the operating member through the medium of the crank 20, the unreduced wall of the slot 28 in the block 28, is caused to engage the lug 30 whereby the starting shaft is rotated. Should the engine start rotating in the proper direction the clutch faces 40 will pass over each other and when the crank 20 is released the spring 17 will part the shafts. If the engine back fires the ratchet wheel 8 will hold the pin 35 stationary and therefore the operating member cannot revolve. The lug 30 because of its tapered formation will force the block 23 outwardly and disengage itself from the groove or recess 28. The starting shaft will then be free to revolve and will carry the cam face into engagement with the end of the pin 35, whereby the starting shaft will be moved outwardly away from engagement with the engine shaft.

Before beginning the cranking operation, the starting shaft may be rotated by manually operating the cam so as to position the lug 30 within the recess 28. This preliminary step is not necessary when the starting shaft is held by friction and does not tend to rotate with the operating member. The block 23 being cut away, as indicated at 29, permits the lug 30 to ride easily into said recess. The cam is provided with a socket opening 42 to receive a rod which may be used in turning the cam manually. The plug 32 provides a very convenient means for regulating the pressure which it is necessary that the lug 3O exert upon the sliding block before the same will be forced outwardly.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided a very reliable cranking device for internal combustion engines, which may be readily as sembled, which is applicable to the common types of motor vehicles now in general use, and which will positively act against the starting shaft to disengage the same from the engine shaft, when the engine back fires.

It is to be understood that while I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to this exact construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, but may make such changes as will fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A starting device comprising a rotatable starting shaft, an operating member rotatably mounted upon said starting shaft, a pin extending through the operating member and movable therewith in one direction, means for holding the pin against movement in one direction, means carried by the operating member for rotating the starting shaft in one direction, and a cam rigid with the starting shaft for engagement with said pin whereby the starting shaft is moved longitudinally when the same is rotated in a reverse direction.

2. A cranking device comprising a rotatable starting shaft adapted to be moved longitudinally into engagement with an engine shaft, a ratchet wheel loosely mount ed upon the starting shaft, means for locking the ratchet wheel against retrograde movement, an operating member rotatable around the starting shaft, a pin extending laterally from said ratchet wheel through an opening into the operating member, a lug carried upon the starting shaft for rotation within a recess formed in the operating member, means carried by the operating member for removable engagement with said lug to rotate the starting shaft in one direction, and a cam rigid with said starting shaft, a reverse rotation of the starting shaft causing said lug to disengage from the means carried by the operating member and causing said cam to engage the pin and move the starting shaft longitudinally.

3. In a starting device for internal combustion engines, a rotatable starting shaft, an operating member rotatable about the shaft, said operating member being formed with a recess surrounding the shaft and having a chamber communicating with said recess, a lug rigid with the shaft and movable in said recess, a spring pressed block slidable within the chamber and projecting into said recess, the block being formed with a groove to removably receive said lug, a rotation of the starting shaft in a reverse direction causing the lug to move from in engagement with the sliding block, means for holding the operating member against movement in one direction, and means for moving the starting shaft longitudinally when it is rotated in a reverse direction.

4. A cranking device for internal combustion engines, comprising a rotatable starting shaft adapted to be moved longitudinally into engagement with an engine shaft, a ratchet Wheel loosely mounted upon said shaft, means for holding the ratchet wheel against retrograde movement, an operating member rotatable around the starting shaft, a pin carried by the ratchet wheel and sliding through an opening formed in said operating member whereby the ratchet wheel and operating member move together, a lug carried by the starting shaft and movable in a recess formed in the operating member, said operating member being provided with a chamber communicating with the recess, means slidable within said chamber for removable engagement with the lug, the rotation of the operating member in one direction causing said means to engage the lug and rotate the starting shaft, and a cam rigid upon said start ing shaft, a reverse rotation of said starting shaft causing said lug to disengage from the means carried by the operating member and causing said cam to engage the pin to move the starting shaft.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES A. BARTLOG.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR H. LUEHRING, EDWARD G. BARTLOG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

